Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-08-26
m1sreIlanegus.
The Fairs are at Hand.

! We think the fairs and exhibitions begin
little too early in the season. While yet
it is called summer, aud many of our farm
1 products are not half grown. notably the
late fruits and many Of the vegetables
which always add so greatly to the inter-
est of an exhibition, the cattle-shows are
already here, for the last days Of August
will see the Eastern State Fair in full
mission. They cover period of six weeks
or more before all are held, and as that
makes the season OF closing up late, so
must the period of opening be correspond
ingly early for some of them at least. So
far as the chief State fair is concerned, that
at Lewiston. we have an idea that it should
be held sufficiently late in the season to
receive the very best contributions from
the several county exhibitions. This
would help to make it what State fair
should be. a truly representative exhibit
of our best farm products, every animal
and article selected, choice and distinctive
Then State fair would be worth going to
see and studying, for visitors would ex-
pect to find only the best in every class
and department-whereas now too many
common, ordinary exhibits are put in
place. The last of August and very first
of September seems too early for State
fair in Maine, although something of
course will depend upon the season, but
! this element cannot be taken into account
early in the season when the date is usu-
| ally fixed.
| Whether early or late, however, the
! fairs must be attended and studied. They
are great educators, and the progress of
our agriculture may be distinctly traced in
the growth of our farmers exhibitions.
Especially IS this true OF all live stock,
and general mechanical appliances and
implements. How many farmer has
gone to the fair, seen handsome yoke of
steers, a fine colt, a good pen OF sheep
and other stock, and gone home
| utttl uiIItu " udFt DIS SOOh ilIliSClI anu
to exhibit better in five years. The in
spiration has led him to study, investigate
and plan for improvement, and in all such
cases the improvement has been made.
These are the men to whom our agri-
culture is greatly indebted for the ad-
vancement that has been made, aud for
our farm stock taking the high rank it does
to-day. By exhibiting his machine or
implement. and talking with farmers at
the fair, the inventor has had practical
objections pointed out, has overcome
| them, perfected his invention, and then
given our farmers the perfect implement
and machine which has made so great a
change in the working OF our modern farm
over earlier years when plows, harrows,
rakes and all tools were rude and did I'M
perfect work, and when a mower was al
most an unknown thing.
There are advances vet to be made and
improvements in stock, implements and
field practice yet to accomplish. The
fairs are stepping stones and way-marks
to their onward progress. Don't neglect
hem. Attend your town or grange fair,
the county shows. and the grand State
exposltions. They are not all perfect,
| there are some defects in management,
he judges will not in every case act fairly,
perhaps, and all cannot carry home the
big prizes. But go just the same. Have
a holiday see the folks get some peaches;
enjoy yourself and try to learn something
from somebody about something which
you did not know before